Store-service apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

B. menus. STORE smvmn APPARATUS;

APPLIGA TION FILED NQV 20, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

ls PETERS 00., buwom um. wAsmxuTbm Bic.

PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

N'o;760,735. v

. 'E.G.GIPE. I

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1903.

' a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llllll N0 MODEL.

ms Pcrzns 9a., PuoTo-uma. wAsmNcn'o IPATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

ELGrG-IPE; STORE SERVIGE APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION rnnn'nom'zo. 1903. no menu. a SHEETS-SHEET a.

' No.7eo,735.

Patented May 24, 1904.

UNIT D-ST TES PATENT OFF CE,

EMANUEL c. eIPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

. Q ST RE-SERVICE. PPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent l io. 760,735, datedMay 24, i904.

' Application filedg November 20,1903. Serial No. 181,990. (No model.) i Y To all whom it may cancer-7v] Be it known that I, EMANUELO; GIPE, of Chicago, invthe county of Cookand State. of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvementsfin Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a descriptiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofzthis specification, in which correspondingnumerals of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

My inventionrelat'es to apparatusffor propelling and conveying cash and package carriers either upon horizontal or grade lines; and one of-the more importantobjects of -my inventionis'toiso utilize what is commonly known as-tl1e,:.spread'-w1re system as to provide for the-maximum-spread of said wires:

at the transmitting end when forwarding the carrier, coupled-with the maximum'exercise as the manual impulse which separates them ceases, thereby enabling the carrier to be re-.

turned by gravity to the sending-station should it fail to reach its. destination. j A further objectisto provide means particularly applicable to grade-lines for en'- abling'the wires at the receiving-station to -be kept closev together while beinglmoved in "opf automatic catch mechanism adapted to posite directions to conform'to -the movement of the lever mechanism at the sending-station. A still further objectis to provide improved provide for the'lateral sway; of the ear.

Other objects are to-soarrange and com- .bine the lever mechanism asto enablethe lines tobe lowerthan heretofore, as well as to anchor the wires in such a way as to enable them to maintain properalin'ement" :with the actuating mechanism. f

= To these ends my invention consistsin the: comblnation of elements herelnarter more particularly described, and jdefinitely pointed out in'theclaims. In .the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grade-line e'mbodyingithe ifeaturesof my invention, the parts being shown as' they would appear when the carrier is at the receiving or cashiersstation. Fig. 2 is alike View showing the several parts as they would 1 said 'plug.

appear just before the carrier reaches the anism isshowni'n vertical section. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a carrier-line, showing a modified construction applicable more par ticularly to horizontal lines. Fig-7 .isa side 5 is a side view thereof in which the stop mech elevation of a modified form of transmitting mechanism; and Figs8 .to 1 2,'1inc'lusive, are views showing variously-modified means for holding the wires at the receiving end ofthe line in parallel "relation while they are being moved in opposite directions. of propellingpower, while causing them to assume a substantially parallel relation'as soon Referring to the-drawings, '1, Figs. 1 and 2, represents the usual hanger depending from the ceiling fOIiZllB support of the wires at the.

Tapped into the lower end of the hang'er'l is a plug 3, Fig. 3', provided with laterally-- I extended lugs l. A hollow fitting (generally designated by 5) is cored to receive the plug 3-and is providcdwith notches 6to receive the lug-s4,the-latter being turned in such a way 1 that-when the fitting is placed upon said plug and-'turnedin its normal direction it will be held in placeby the lugs 4: while swiveled upon A clevis 7 Figs. 1 and 2, is'at-f tached to alug upon the rear of said fitting and' i nturn connected in the'usual way'with a brace rod or wire 8. Anarm 9v is rigidly formedupon said fitting and extended up"- wardly in such a manner,. as to permit it to bear .a'gainst the hanger'l, said arm being "notched at the upper end to receivesaid anger. Said fitting is provided with for- 'wardly and downwardly extended parallel arms-10, with which the lower portion of the 7 arm 9 is connected. A suitable bolt is passed through a bore in said arms at 11, upon which is pivotally mounted a lever 12, the upper end of which is connected, by means of a clevis 13,

to a carrier-wire 14. Acoiled spring tends to maintain the lever 12 in a normal position, as shown in 1. To the lower end of theles ver 12 is pivotally connected a handle-bar 16, the forward end of which is jointedly connected, by means of a clevis 17, to the lower carrier-wire 18 of the line. Upon the lower part of the bar 16, at the forward end thereof, is an integral depending portion 19, upon the rear end of which is formed a rigid handle 20. while the forward part is provided with laterally-extended lugs 21 upon opposite sides thereof through bores in which are loosely extend ed parallel rods 22, having coiled springs 23 24, respectively, mounted thereon upon opposite sides of the lugs 21. To the forward end of said rods is rigidly attached abufferframe 25., having vertically-pivoted jaws 26 held innormal engaging positions by means of springs 27, the whole forminga cushioned automatic stop adapted toengage the car and hold and release the same in the manner hereinafter described;

, 31 is secured to the fitting 28 and to a similar yoke is an elbow-lever 37, to one arm of which is attached a clevis 38, which serves as a connection for the upper end of the inclined carrier-wire 14. A like elbow-lever 39 is pivoted at 40 to the lower extremity of said yoke, one arm ofwhich lever is attached, by means of a clevis 41, to the carrier-wire 18. The short arms of the levers 37 39 are jointedly con- 1 nected to each other by means of a link 42, bent. as shown, in order to avoid interference with the coacting parts in their operation.

Set-screws 43', tapped into lugs of the clevis 33 above and below the pivotal point 34, serve to adjustably secure the yoke 35 in a stationary positionin order to equalize the tension of the wires 14 and 18. For example, when the lever 12 and handle-bar 16. are parallel, as shown in Fig. 1, said yoke may be adjusted by means of the set-screws until the tension upon the two wires is uniform. The advan tageof this feature may readily be seen by studying the operation of the mechanism.

Mounted upon the wire 14 is a car 44, having upper wheels 45 and lower wheels 46, as is usual in cars of this type, one pair being mounted above the wire 14 and the other pair below the wire 18.

The yoke 35 is formed from two parallel plates or bars between which the bent levers upon the part 47, serves to maintain the frame 49 in alinement with the part 47. Stops or lugs 54,'Fig. 4, serve to limit the downward movement of the rear end of the frame 49. Formed upon the opposite sides of said frame and extending laterally therefrom are extensions 21, through parallel bores in which are loosely projected buffer-rods 22 22, having coiled springs 23 and 24 24, respectively mounted upon opposite sides of the parts 21. Pins 59 59, together with suitable collars or rings, as shown, serve to retain the spring 24 in place. Theopposite ends of the rods 22 are rigidly attached to a frame 25, and inasmuch as the frame, lateral extensions, and springs correspond in every respect to those heretofore referred to in Figs. 1 and 2 l have to avoid confusion given them like numbers. Said frame is U-shaped and open at the front, as shown in Fig. 4. Pivotally mounted in vertical axes upon the forward ends of saidv frame are the metal jaws 26 26, heretofore referred to, held normally in the positions shown in Fig. 4 by means of the springs 27, mounted upon the axes thereof. Stops 6O 60 upon said jaws are arranged to engage lugs 61 61 upon the frame 25 to limit the movement of the jaws 26. against the action of said springs. The jaws are provided with facings 62, of leather, while a leather facing 63 is rigidly attached to the inner face of the frame 25.

Upon each end of the car 44 is formed a 65 in the rear thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of said device is as follows:

Assuming the car to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position it is held by the stop mechanism, the catch 64 being in engagement with the jaws 26, which engage the shoulders 65, the car is released by pulling downwardly upon the handle 50, thereby tilt- I ing the frame 49 upon the pivot 48, Figs. 4

' tion of the springs 27 and allowing said head to abut against the leather facing 63, Fig. 4, of the frame 25, the impact of which is cush- .2 1 same-time causingthe upper wire to beraised,

As a result of this increased in opposite directions);

io'nd the springs 23, which are compressed thereby. Therecoil of said springs tends to throwthe car back; ,but'the shoulders 65 being in engagement with the jaws, or-rather with the'ends. of. the leather -facin'gs thereon, the-catch is'securely held in place, while the rebound of the car is cushioned by the action of the springs 24:.- The converging. jaws perform an important and novel function in mydevice, inasmuch as they insurea positive and certain engagement of the catch therewith notwithstanding the lateral swing of the car.

Should the car swing laterally, so as tocausethe'c'atch to'strike only one of the jaws, the latter will be swung back thereby, and before the rebound of the car can occur, so as to free it from engagement, the spring 27 of the jaw will. .have pushed the said head -.laterally against the companion jaw, when said jaws,

acting. 1n-.-COIljl1nOti0I1, will cause the car to be moved into proper alinement and to remain in a vertical-position.

In propelling the car from the salesmans station ,upthe' grade to that of the cashier. the

as heretofore.

operator grasps the handle 2.0; and pulls the handle-bar l6 downwardly against the action of the spring15, asshown in Fig. 2.. .The' first part of this movement serves-to draw the jaws 26, downwardly to release the car. It

willbe noticed that this 'actionicauses the maximum stress to be imparted to the lower wire, therebyf greatly increasing the propelling action thereof as compared with former constructions, in which'the lower wire exerts no positive propelling action, while at the propelling power I am enabledto shorten, the

length of. ,thelever 12 for agivenlength of; line, while increasing the. propulsive force which maybe applied to-the car. :Atthe same time the action of the compound lever system at the-recelving end is-such as to cause the. two wires to remain substantially parallel or very closetogether while moving While I prefer-the. construction. shown. in

I Figs..1' and 2 forgrade-line's, either for. package or cash carriers, upon; horizontal lines where it .is necessaryto propel the car inboth directions I'would recommend the adoption o f"corresponding propelling mechanism at both'ends. Such a construction is shown in.

Fig;',;;6, in which jthef'fitting. 5, lever 12, and

link -16 are duplicated. In this construction,

' however,- it isixaessential that the levers 12 should be disposed substantially at right angles with respect toeach other,that is to say, when the one is vertical the other i should be h'orizontah j In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification. of the propelling mechanism, in which a fitting 66, which is a modification. of the fitting 5,. is

secured to the hanger. -A- lever 67 is pivoted thereto at 68, one end of which is connected with the wireylt: A bar 69 is pivotally at tached at 7 O'to the other end of the lever- 67 The long arm of the bar 69 isconnected with,

the wire 18in the manner shown,wh-ile the endof the short armis bent upwardlyla'nd jointedlyconnected at 71 to a link-72, which is in turn connected at73 to a'n arm 74, extending rearwardly from the hanger v66. A

pull-cord 7 5'and handle 76 enables the bar 69 to be actuated.- The length of the link 7 2 is less than the distance between the pivotal points. 68 and 7 O. "This enables the long end .of the bar 69 to descend with greater rapidity than the other, thereby increasing the spread of the propelling-wires and imparting a positive initial stress directly to the lower wire in substantially. the same way as is accomplished by theconstructions first described.

I do not confine myself to any specific means for producing a reverse longitudinal movement of the wires 14: and 18' while maintaining a parallel or substantially parallel relation between them, inasmuch as such a result may be accomplished in various ways, and in Figs. 18 to 12, inclusive, I have shown examples ofsuch varying means. I

In Fig. 8 a bar.77,-having grooves 78in its upper and lower. faces, respectively, as indicated in dotted lines, has one end 79 jointedly attached to a support, while .at 80,.upon the opposite. end, is-a pivoted lever81, having links 82 83 attached to its opposite ends.- 'A

friction-roller 84 'is. mounted upon. the free end of the link 82 and arranged to run in the upper groove 7 8, said link being also connected by means of a long clevis. 85 to the wire 14:.

A like friction-roller 86 is mounted on (the free end-,ofthe link 83 to run in the lower groove 78,.said link being connected in like connected, as shown, with the wiref18, while the upperend is connected, by means of alink 92, to a point 93 upon a lever 94, theupper end of which is connected at 95 to the forward end of thelever-support 88 and the lower end to'the wire 14. Said levers are so propor= tioned and connected asto enable said wires to move back'and forth in the desired man'ner.

Fig. 10 is intended to illustrate an equivas porting-bars 96, but one of which is shown, jointedly connected at 97 to a stationary support and having .two sprocket-wheels 98 99 -mounted therein.

A sprocketchain 100 is trained around the former and under the latattached, respectively, to. the wires 14 and 18. V

lent mechanism consisting of parallel. supter, which acts as an idler, andv has itsends This construction and arrangement causes the idler to press down upon the chain and to take up any slack which might occur as a result of manipulating the wires.

Fig. 11 shows a frame'lOl adapted to be jointedly connected at 102 to a stationary support. Rack-bars 103 104 are mounted in parallel guideways in the bottom and top of said frame and are arranged, respectively, to bear againstfrietion-rollers 105 106,while the teeth thereon engage with those of a gear-wheel 107, journaled in the frame between them. Said bars are connected respectively, with the wires 14 and 18, and when the latter are actuated said bars are moved in opposite directions.

Fig. 12 shows an inclined support 108 ad apted to be pivotally connected at 109 to a stationary point. Pivoted to saidsupport at 110 and 111, respectively, are intermeshing segmental gears 112 113, having depending arms 114 115, the former of which is connected to the wire 14 and the latter to the wire 18. The connected gears cause the arms 114 115 to move in conformity with the wires, while the inclined support insures uniformity of tension.

One of the advantages of my improved device in connection with cash-carrier service is that when the carrier reaches its destination at the cashiers station it cannot be returned except by the action of an attendant at that end, thus preventing theft by the salesman, who might in the event of receiving even change from the customer withdraw the car in the case of the absence of the cashier and keep the money without being detected. A further and pronounced advantage is that by utilizing the actuating-bar, which I have referred to asv the handle-bar, to spread the wires and actuate the swinging lever not only is the power increased as stated, but I have discovered and demonstrated in actual practice that with a given manual impulse the car may be propelled with double the rapidity that it would be were the handle-bar dispensed with and the lower wire atteched to the lower end of the swinging lever, as has been the practice heretofore. Moreover, in such former construction the lower arm of the swinging lever is lengthened to form a-handle to actuate such lever. This necessitates the raising of the lines to such a degree as to compel the use of steps to enable the operator to reach the car; otherwise the reversal of the wires from the opposite end, and the consequent rapid movement of said handle, may cause it to strike a person standing beneath. My improvement avoids such danger, enables the lines to be lowered to such an extent as to render the car easily accessible,'while the movement of the handlebar is easier and more natural than is that of the lever. In addition to these considerations the construction is simplified in that it enables a stop and releasing mechanism to be combined in one and placed upon the handle-bar,

the movement of which latter serves both to release and to propel the car.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, consisting of double wires, one above the other, a carrier having opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires respectively, mechanism for positively separating said wires consisting of a swinging lever pivoted between its ends to a stationary support with one end jointedly connected to one of said wires, a bar jointedl y connected at one end to the opposite end of said lever while the other end of said bar is attached to the second of said double wires, and means for applying power directly to said bar to force its forward end away from the forward end of said lever, whereby said wires maybe separated with an equally positive initial propelling action in their contact with the opposing wheels as distinguished from such an action by one wire only.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a-way consisting of double wires, one above the other, a carrier having opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires respectively, means for positively separating said wires consisting of a lever pivoted between its ends to a stationary support with its upper end jointedly connected to one of said wires, a bar jointedly connected at one end to the opposite end of said lever while the other end of said bar is attached to said secondary wire and a handle upon the forward end of said bar for positively actuating both said bar and lever.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, consisting of double wires, one above the other, a carrier having opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires respectively, means for positively separating said wires. consisting of a lever pivoted between its ends to a stationary support with its upper end jointedly connected to one of said wires, a bar jointedly connected at one end to the opposite end of said lever while the other end of said bar is attached to said secondary wire, a spring for maintaining said lever and bar in normal parallelism, and a handle upon the forward end of said bar for positively actuating both said bar and lever.

4. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a track or way consisting of double wires, one above the other, a carrier having opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires respectively, mechanism for positively separating said wires consisting of a swinging lever pivoted between its ends to a stationary support, with one end jointedly connected to one of said wires, a bar jointedly connected at one end to the opposite end of said lever while the other end of said bar is attached to the second of said double wires, means for opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires 1 applying power directly to said bar to force its forward end away from the forward end of said lever, and a combined automatic stop and looking mechanism mounted upon said bar for engaging and locklng sald car when the bar is in its normal position, and for re' leasing the car when the bar is depressed.

In a store-serviceapparatus, the combi- 'nation of a track or way consisting of double wires, one above the other, a carrier having.

respectively, mechanism for positively separat ng said w1res conslsting of a swinging leits forward end away from theforward end of said lever and acombined automaticjstop and locking mechanism mounted upon said bar for engaging and locking said car, when said bar is in its normal. position, said locking mechanism consisting of converging spring:

actuated jaws'having vertical axes, saidjaws being mounted in an open frame whereby the movement of said frame in a Vertical plane may serve to withdraw them from engage ment' with the car. I 1 V 6. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a track or way consisting of double wires, one above the otherja carrier having opposing wheels arranged to engage said wires ,l respectively,,mechanism for po'sitivelyseparating said wires consisting ofa swinging lever pivoted between .its ends to a stationary support, with one end jointedly connected to oneof said wires, a bar, one end of which is jointedly connected to .the opposite end of said lever while the other end attached to" the second of said double wires, means for applying power directlyto said barto force its forward end away from the forward end of said lever,'means for yieldingly maintain-- ing said bar in a normal position,- and a combined'automaticstop and locking mechanism mounted upon said bar for engaging and looking said car'whe'n said bar is in its normal position, said locking mechanism consisting of converging spring-actuated wings or jaws having vertical axes, said wings being niount: ed 1n anopen frame whereby the movement.

of said bar from its normal position will serve to withdraw said wings from contact with said car without any movement of the former upon their axes. a

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a way consisting of double wires, a carrier provided w1th wheels above and below said wires, mechanism forspreading said wires comprlsing aswinging lever havlng its upper end jointedly connected to the upper wire, an actuating-bar, one end of which is ointedly connected to the lower end of said lever while the otherisconnectcd in like manner to the lower w 1re,means for normally main"- taining parallelism between said actuating bar and lever, means for manually actuating said bar to swing said lever upon its pivot to forcibly depressthe lower and lift the upper wire, a catch upon saidcar and a locking mechanism for engaging said catch. when the-bar is raised and. for releasing the same when the bar is lowered. I 3 1 8. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way consisting'of double wires,

a car mounted thereon having wheels above and below said wires, a pivoted lever-having one end connected to an actuating-bar, me'ansfor jointedly connecting one'of said wires-t0 the opposite end of said lever and the other to the opposite end of said bar, a spring for normally holding said bar and lever substantiallyparal- I lel to each other, means for manually actuat ing said barto tilt said lever while positively depressing said lower wire, and means for constantly maintaining said wires in close proximity to each otherat the opposite end'ofthe waywhile permitting them to move longitudinally in opposite directions.

9. In a store-service apparatus, the combination ofa way consisting of double wires for connecting the stations, a carr er having wheels above and below said wlres, mechanism for spreading said wires consisting of a swinging lever having its upper end jointedly connected to the upper wire, an actuating-bar, one end of which is jointedly connected to the lower end of said leverwhile the other is attached to said lower wire, means for manually actuating said bar to forcibly depress the lower wlre, means for; returning t to a normal position, and an automatic stop and locking mechanism mounted upon said bar arranged to engage and hold said car when-the bar is raised and to be released from the'c'ar when the-bar is depressed. I

10.- In a store-service apparatus, the com bination of a way consisting of double wires, a carrier having wheelsabove and below said wires, mechanism for spreading said wires consisting of a swinging lever having its upper end jointedly connected to the upper wire, an actuating-bar having one end connected to the lower end of said lever while the other end is attached to vthe lower wire, meansfor manually actuating said bar, and means in operative connection with said wires at the other end of the-way for holding said wires in close proximity to each other while permitting a substantially parallel longitudinal movement thereof in opposite directions.

11. In a store -service apparatus, the combination of a way consisting of double wires, a carrier having wheels above and below-said wires, mechanism for spreading said wires comprising a swinging lever having its upper end jointedly connected to the upper Wire, an actuating-bar having one'end jointed'lycon- .nected to the lower end of said leve'r while the other end is attached in like manner'to that of the lower wire, and means for maintaining a substantial parallelism between said wires throughout their length at all times eX- eept during the act of propulsion.

12. Ina store-service apparatus, the com- .bination of a way, comprising double wires,

mounted thereon, a link for connecting an arm of one lever with a corresponding arm of the other lever and means for connecting .the'opposite arm to said wires respectively.

13. In a store-service apparatus the combination of a wireway, a stationary hanger and a fitting swiveled to the lower ends of said hanger for the support of the wireway and actuating mechanism, said fitting being provided with an upwardly-projecting arm arranged to bear against said hanger, whereby the tension of the wire may cause the proper 'alinement therewith of said actuating mechanism.

14. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a wireway, a car having a catch thereon, a stop having spring-controlled leaves orjaws arranged to swing upon vertical axes and set normally at converging angles with respect to each other whereby the engagement of the catch may be insured irrespective of the lateral swing of the car, and means for removing said jaws with their supportingframe from said catch without opening the jaws.

15.. In a store-service apparatus, the combination with a car having a catch thereon, of a stop mechanism, a spring-controlled buffer for supporting said stop mechanism, U- shaped arms arranged in a horizontal plane, wings 0r jaws mounted in vertical axes upon the ends of said arms, said jaws being projected inwardly in converging planes, stops for limiting the movement of said jaws, springs for holding them in normal positions respectively, and means for moving said jaws with their supporting-frame away from said catch.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this l7th day of November, 1903.

EMANUEL G. (i1 PE.

\Vitnesses:

D. 1 1. FLETCHER,

CARRIE E. JORDAN. 

